Car-fender.



Wiinuaoo 4 v e. F. WALKER.

GAB. FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. L 1908.

- Patented Sept. 29, 1908. V

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GAR FENDER APPLICATION rngn rn. 1, 190a. v

Patented 'Spt. 29, 1908.

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QQOGQO UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. WALKER, OF AMBRIDGE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO DAVID AMBROSE, OF AMBRIDGE, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAR-FENDER.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

Serial No. 413,723.

To all whom it may concern: A

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ambridge, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Fenders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car-fenders and has for its object to provide an apparatus of this kind which will catch a person struck by 4 the fender and prevent him from falling off the same.

The invention comprises a pair of doors located above the fender and normally open, which doors are tripped by the person struck by the fender, whereupon they close about said person and thereby prevent him from falling off the fender. T

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Figs. 4 and 5 are details of construction hereinafter referred to.

Referrin specifically to the drawings 6 denotes the p atform at the end of the car, and 7 is the end of the car-body. To the end of the former is secured a cross-beam 8 which supports the fender.

The fender comprises arms 9 pivoted at their inner ends as indicated at 10 to ears 11 secured to the beam 8. Extending between, and secured to the arms is a net 12 to hold the person struck by the fender. The net does not extend to the outer ends of the arms, and at the front end of the net is a roller 13 which extends between the arms and is journaled in suitable bearings thereon. The arms, near their outer ends, carry a cross-bar 14 which is covered with rubber or other cushioning material. The roller 13 is provided with a pawl and ratchet mechanism 15 so that it can rotate in one direction only. The roller and the cross-bar are for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Above the net 12 is located a pair of doors 16 which are hinged at 17 to rods 18 made fast to the end 7 of the car-body. The hinge rods 18 are of sufiicient length to properly locate the doors with respect to the net. The doors are preferably of skeleton form as shown, for the sake of lightness, and they are located respectively at the ends of the fender. Each door is provided with a closing spring 19.

The doors are held normally open by a prop 20 placed therebetween. The ends of the prop are engaged by spring fingers 21 on thedoors which prevent accidental displacement. The prop is connected to a chain 22 attached to an arm 23 secured to and projecting from the car-body 7. On said arm is also a latch 24 which engages the doors when they are closed.

At the bottom of each door is a vertically yielding roller 25. The journal at one end of this roller works in a bearing-block 26 slidably mounted in a supporting-frame 27 on the door. The journal at the other end of the roller works in a bar 28 slidably mounted under straps 29 secured to the door. Springs 30 bearin on the block 26, and the bar 28, respective y, hold the roller 25 in its normal position. The end 7 of the car-body is covered with a cushion 31 to prevent injury to a person falling thereagainst.

The fender is held the proper distance above the road-bed by means of chains 32 connected at one end to the arms 9 and at the other end to the car-body.

The fender operates as follows: A person upon being struck by the cross-bar 14 is tripped and thrown forwardly toward the net 12. As the prop 19 is in the falling persons path it will be pushed by his body out of the spring fingers and away from the doors whereupon they close behind the person and he lands safely on the net, and as he is inclosed by the doors he is in no danger of falling out of the net. The roller 13 assists to roll the person forward toward the net, the pawl and ratchet mechanism 14 preventing it from turning in a contrary direction. The prop is well within the doors so that they will not close in on the person until he is a safe distance within the same. If any part of the persons body should get caught under the doors, the roller 25 will yield and thus prevent injury to the person. As the cross bar 14 is close to the ground, the person will be struck at or about the ankle so that he is sure to fall downwardly toward the net.

The apparatus herein described is simple in construction and can be readily applied to the car at small expense. It is reliable in operation and effectually serves the purpose for which it is designed. When not in use, the doors will be closed and the fender elevated and folded up against the same and held in this position by shortening up the pair of doors located above the same, a prop between the doors for holding them open, spring-fingers on the doors engageable by the ends of the props, and means for closing the doors when the prop is removed.

3. A fender comprising a pair of arms connected at one end to the car-body and carry ing at the other end a crossbar, a not carried by the arms, a roller mounted on the arms between the net and the cross-bar, a pair of doors located abovethe net, a prop between the doors for holding them open, and means for closing the doors when the prop is removed.

4. The combination with a car, of a pair of doors hinged at the end thereof, and a tender under the doors pivoted to the car and foldable against the side of the doors when they are closed.

In testimony whereof I aHix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE F. WALKER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE M. BARCLAY, J. W. YoUN'r. 

